Mullins full of praise for Townend after bumper win Backsheesh proved a fourth winning favourite on the final day of the 2018 Tramore Festival when taking the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares INH Flat Race in impressive fashion. Trained by Tom Mullins for his sister Sandra McCarthy, the daughter of Big Bad Bob was available at 4/1 earlier in the day and further supported on track from 9/4 into 15/8. Jody Townend, younger sister of former champion Paul, has been making the most of increasing opportunities of late and was recording her fourth winner of the season. She sent the favourite to the front in the dip about two furlongs out, and soon asserted coming right away in the final furlong. The margin was an easy eight lengths at the line, with That’s My Dubai staying on late to deny Patriciadplasterer the runner-up spot. Mullins said, "She deserved that. I was a little bit afraid that she mightn't act on the track, but she did. Jody is a star waiting to happen. She took her back at halfway, and was able to keep her mind on the job and not disappoint her too much. She had to go when she went, she was full of running at the bottom of the hill. "She is a nice mare and is only four. She got really strong in the last couple of months. I don't know where I will go with her now, maybe a winners bumper or a Flat maiden. She'd probably win a Flat maiden here next year or a Flat handicap. "She has done it today and that's the main thing. The rider was very, very good and she is special." (DM & AM)
